Strauss-Kahn has 2 hearings in 2 countries

NEW YORK, March 26 (UPI) -- A New York judge will hear Dominique Strauss-Kahn's diplomatic immunity claim in a hotel maid's civil case accusing the former bank leader of sexual assault.

A hearing in the civil case of Nafissatou Diallo, whose criminal charges of rape and other sex-related abuses against the ex-International Monetary Fund chief were tossed by prosecutors after her statements were deemed unreliable, is scheduled for Wednesday, the same day Strauss-Kahn is expected to be formally charged for his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring in the northern French city of Lille, Radio France Internationale reported Monday.

Neither Strauss-Kahn nor Diallo were expected attend Wednesday's hearing, where lawyers for Strauss-Kahn are expected to argue their client has diplomatic immunity because of his position when the alleged offense occurred last year and is immune from civil suits, RFI said. Diallo's lawyers are expected to argue that Strauss-Kahn at best would have limited immunity that doesn't extend to cases of alleged sexual assault.

In France on Wednesday, the former IMF head is expected to be formally charged for his alleged participation in a prostitution ring in France, RFI said. Strauss-Kahn has said he was unaware that women at sex parties in which he participated were prostitutes.

However, one woman said he asked for her telephone number and her rates, RFI said.

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